Drug, weapon charge nets term

CA MERON—A 23-year-old Rockdale man, arrested last November near Rockdale Elementary School on drugs and weapons charges, pleaded guilty last week in 20th District Court and received two 12-year sentences and one 10-year term in the state prison system.

John Michael Coldiron was arrested Nov. 11 by Ofc. Stephen Goodrich near the school in what started as a traffic stop.

Goodrich said he recovered a stolen Glock semiautomatic pistol and about $300 worth of crystal methamphetamine.

Newlin said the suspect later confessed to police he was on his way to make a drug deal when he was stopped by Goodrich for having an out-of-date license plate sticker.

Newlin said the pistol had been stolen from a Rockdale resident.

Offenses were enhanced as occurring in a drug-free zone due to their proximity to the school campus.

Prosecutor Kerry Spears said Coldiron pleaded guilty to felon in possession of a firearm and drew a 12-year prison term.

He also pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance (1 to 4 grams) with intent to deliver and received a second 12-year term.

Coldiron also pleaded “true” to probation violation and received a 10-year prison term.

In September, 2007, he had been convicted of possession of a controlled substance (1 to 4 grams) and received a seven-year probated sentence.

Spears said sentences will run concurrently.

Coldiron also waived his rights to the firearm, Spears said.

Revoked

Also last week in 20th District Court, Lamonte Versill Morris, 26, of Texarkana, pleaded true to violating probation condition on previous convictions for tampering with a government record and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

He was sentenced to a fouryear prison sentence and a twoyear state jail term.